Agenda item

Cllr Henry Hobhouse left the meeting at 12.00

The officer presented the report as detailed in the agenda with the aid of a power point presentation of the site and proposed plans.  She confirmed that her recommendation was to approve the application as detailed in the agenda report with a slight amendment to the wording of condition 10 to read:

The development hereby permitted shall not be commenced unless full details of the CCTV equipment and the finished colour of the security fencing has been submitted to and agreed in writing by the local planning authority. Once agreed such details shall be fully implemented as part of the development and not subsequently altered without the written agreement of the local planning authority.

Mr J Knight of Pitcombe PC addressed the committee in objection to the proposal, he pointed out that the PC had not been consulted at the pre-application stage, he felt the application should be deferred until other parishes affected by the proposal had been consulted.

Mr Earl spoke in objection to the application on behalf of the Monarchs Way and Ramblers Association, he was concerned about the ancillary equipment that would be used during and after construction, and he suggested that if the application was approved a condition should be included to ensure that the footpath at Manor Farm should be kept open and safe at all times especially during construction.

Mr N Leaney the agent explained that the footpath would not be closed or disrupted during construction. In response to a previous comment he confirmed that a public consultation had taken place in Castle Cary during June 2014 when 100 people had attended. He also reminded the committee that Castle Cary TC had recommended approval of the application.

In response to the question regarding consultation, the Planning Officer and Area Lead East explained that all relevant parish and town councils had been consulted by SSDC and had been sent plans of the proposals.  Developers organise their own pre-application consultations and there was no right or wrong way of doing that. 

Ward Member Cllr Nick Weeks did not think that the proposal would have much of an impact

In response to the opportunity to correct a misstatement a member of the public disagreed with the opinion that there would be no impact on the view whilst walking along the footpath.

Following discussion and after allaying concerns about any possible enforcement if necessary of a Construction Management Plan and Construction Traffic Management Plan as detailed in Conditions 13 and 14, a proposal was made and seconded to approve the application as per the officer’s recommendation with amendments to

·         Condition 03 to include reference to the removal of all cabling;

·         An amendment to the wording of Condition 10 (as previously advised);

·         Condition 13 to include a requirement for a pre-commencement survey of the condition of the highway and a mitigation plan to put right any defects caused by construction traffic;

Additional informative to remind the applicant that in connection with condition 13.of this permission the Park is considered to be an unsuitable means of access to the application site.

On being put to the vote the motion was carried by 4 votes in favour; 1 against and 1 abstention.

RESOLVED: That Planning Application 14/03587/FUL be approved as per the officers recommendation for the following reason:

Notwithstanding local concerns and the concerns of the Monarchs Way and Ramblers Associations it is considered that the benefits in terms of the provision of a renewable source of energy, which will make a valuable contribution towards cutting greenhouse gas emissions, outweigh the limited impact of the proposed PV panels on the local landscape character. As such the proposal accords with the Government's objective to encourage the provision of renewable energy sources and the aims and objectives of the National Planning Policy Framework, the National Planning Practice Guidance and Policies ST3, ST5, ST6, EC1, EC3, EC7, EC8, EH1, EH5, EH11, EH12, EP3, EU7 and CR9 of the South Somerset Local Plan 2006.

Amended conditions:

01.       The development hereby permitted shall be begun before the expiration of three years from the date of this permission.

            Reason:  To accord with the provisions of section 91(1) of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.

02.       The development hereby permitted shall be carried out in accordance with the following approved plans drawings numbered BH1310185S-010-01, BH110185S-002-1, BH1310185S-001-05, BH110185S-003-02, BH110185S-004-1, BH110185S-005-03, BH110185S-006-01 and BH110185S-008-01 received 07/08/2014.

            Reason: For the avoidance of doubt and in the interests of proper planning.

03.       The development hereby permitted shall be removed and the land restored to its former condition before 31/12/2044 or within six months of the cessation of the use of the solar farm for the generation of electricity whichever is the sooner in accordance with a restoration plan to be submitted to and approved in writing by the local planning authority. The restoration plan will need to include all the works necessary to revert the site to open agricultural land including the removal of all structures, cabling, materials and any associated goods and chattels from the site.

            Reason: In the interests of landscape character and visual amenity in accordance with Policies ST3, ST5, ST6 and EC3 of the South Somerset Local Plan.

04.       The supporting posts to the solar array shall be anchored into the ground as detailed on approved drawing BH110185S-004-1 received 07/08/2014.

            Reason: In the interests of sustainable construction and to accord with Part 10 of the NPPF.

05.       The landscaping scheme shown on drawing titled Landscape Management Plan received 12/09/2014 shall be completely carried out within the first available planting season from the date of commencement of the development. For the duration of this permission the trees and shrubs shall be protected and maintained, and any trees or plants which die, are removed or become seriously damaged or diseased shall be replaced in the next planting season with others of similar size and species, unless the local planning authority gives written consent to any variation.

            Reason: In the interests of visual amenity and landscape character in accordance with policies ST5, ST6 and EC3 of the South Somerset Local Plan.

06.       No works hereby permitted shall be commenced unless a landscape management plan has been submitted to and agreed in writing by the local planning authority. Such a plan shall detail measures for the protection of any new and retained planting, the height at which the perimeter hedge planting shall be maintained and an on-going programme of maintenance. Such agreed details shall be fully implemented for the duration of the use hereby permitted, unless any variation is agreed by the local planning authority. 

            Reason: In the interests of visual amenity and landscape character in accordance with policies ST5, ST6 and EC3 of the South Somerset Local Plan.

07.       Prior to commencement of each significant stage of ground works, an updated survey for badger setts will be undertaken by a competent person, and if any are present within 30 metres of the area of activity, the works shall not commence until a method statement for the protection of badgers has been produced and any necessary Natural England licences have be obtained.  The method statement shall be implemented in full. 

            Reason: For the conservation and protection of legally protected species in accordance with Policy EC8 of the South Somerset Local Plan, and to ensure compliance with the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, and The Protection of Badgers Act 1992.

08.       No works hereby permitted shall be commenced unless details of measures for the enhancement of biodiversity have been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority.  The biodiversity enhancement measures shall be implemented in accordance with the approved details unless otherwise approved in writing by the local planning authority.

            Reason: For the enhancement of biodiversity in accordance with NPPF.

09.       No means of external illumination/lighting shall be installed without the prior written consent of the Local Planning Authority.

            Reason: In the interest of visual amenity and to safeguard the rural character of the area to accord with Policies EC3, ST6 and EP3 of the South Somerset Local Plan.

10.       The development hereby permitted shall not be commenced unless full details of the CCTV equipment and the finished colour of the security fencing has been submitted to and agreed in writing by the local planning authority. Once agreed such details shall be fully implemented as part of the development and not subsequently altered without the written agreement of the local planning authority.

            Reason: In the interest of visual amenity and to safeguard the rural character of the area to accord with Policies EC3, ST6 and EP3 of the South Somerset Local Plan.

11.       No form of audible alarm shall be installed on the site without the prior written consent of the local planning authority.

            Reason: In the interest of residential amenity and the rural amenities of the area to accord with Policy ST6 of the South Somerset Local Plan.

12.       No development hereby permitted shall be commenced unless details of the means of connection to the electricity grid from the site have been submitted to and approved in writing by the local planning authority.

            Reason: In the interest of visual amenity and to safeguard the rural character of the area to accord with Policies EC3, ST5 and ST6 of the South Somerset Local Plan.

13.       The development hereby permitted shall not commence unless a Construction Management Plan has been submitted to and approved in writing by the local planning authority. The plan shall include a pre-commencement survey of the highway and a mitigation plan to put right any defects caused by construction traffic, details of all construction vehicle movements, construction operation hours, construction vehicular routes to and from site, construction delivery hours, expected number of construction vehicle per day, car parking for contractors, specific measures to be adopted to mitigate construction impacts in pursuance of the Environmental Code of Construction Practice and a scheme to encourage the use of public transport amongst contractors. The development shall be carried out strictly in accordance with the approved Construction Management Plan.

            Reason in the interest of highway safety and the rural amenities of the area to accord with Policies ST5 and ST6 of the South Somerset Local Plan.

14.       Prior to the commencement of the development hereby permitted, a Construction Traffic Management Plan shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority and thereafter implemented by the approved Contractor. The plan and any contract shall stipulate the size of vehicles to be used for deliveries and the routes to be used.

            Reason: In the interest of highway safety to accord with Policy ST5 of the South Somerset Local Plan.

Informatives:

01.       Please take note of the advice and recommendations set out within the Environment Agency's letter dated 05/09/2014.

02.       The applicant is reminded that in reference to condition 13 of this permission The Park is considered to be an unsuitable means of access to the application site and as such no construction traffic associated with this development use this route to access or leave the site.

(Voting: 4 in favour: 1 against 1 abstention)